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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Thanga Kili Tholil

From Mayandi · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Mayandi1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haa…aa..aa…Haa…aa..aa…
Male :Hmm mm mm hoo oooHmm mm mm hoo ooo
Male
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Naan thottavudan mella mellaThe moment I touched it, slowly and softly
Thappi sendrathu….It escaped away...
Male
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Naan thottavudan mella mellaThe moment I touched it, slowly and softly
Thappi sendrathu….It escaped away...
Female
Ilam thaththai kindha nenjamIsn't the heart given to this young parrot
Oru manjam allavooA cozy bed?
Naan kattru kolla ethanaiyoooHow many skills are there for me to learn,
Vithai sollalaamooShall I teach you the arts?
Female
Ilam thaththai kindha nenjamIsn't the heart given to this young parrot
Oru manjam allavooA cozy bed?
Naan kattru kolla ethanaiyoooHow many skills are there for me to learn,
Vithai sollalaamooShall I teach you the arts?
Male
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Naan thottavudan mella mellaThe moment I touched it, slowly and softly
Thappi sendrathu….It escaped away...
Male
Kodi vittu kaniyondru madi vandhathuLeaving the vine, a fruit came into the lap
En madi vandhu madhu alli kudiyendrathuLanding in my lap, it bade me to scoop and drink its nectar
Kodi vittu kaniyondru madi vandhathuLeaving the vine, a fruit came into the lap
En madi vandhu madhu alli kudiyendrathuLanding in my lap, it bade me to scoop and drink its nectar
Female
Maraiyena kuzhal vandhu thiraiyittadhuTresses fell like a veil and created a curtain
Adhan maraivinil kalaigalum thulir vittadhuBehind that veil, romantic arts sprouted
Maraivinil kalaigalum thulir vittadhuBehind that veil, romantic arts sprouted
Female
Ilam thaththai kindha nenjamIsn't the heart given to this young parrot
Oru manjam allavooA cozy bed?
Naan kattru kolla ethanaiyoooHow many skills are there for me to learn,
Vithai sollalaamooShall I teach you the arts?
Female
Malar konda pani vannam jolikkindrathuThe color of dew held by the flower sparkles bright
Adhai kadhir vandhu thanakkendru parikkindrathuA sunbeam arrives and plucks it for itself
Male
Malai thottu megangal anaikkindrathuClouds touch the mountain and embrace it
Adhai thalai mudhal kaal varai alakkindrathuMeasuring it from head to toe
Thalai mudhal kaal varai alakkindrathuMeasuring it from head to toe
Male
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Naan thottavudan mella mellaThe moment I touched it, slowly and softly
Thappi sendrathu….It escaped away...
Male
Kulir konda ilanthendral varugindrathuThe cool young breeze arrives
Adhu neer konda alaigalil nadakkindrathuIt walks upon the water-filled waves
Female
Alaiyena ilam manam thavikkindrathuLike a wave, the young heart yearns restlessly
Adhai anaiyittu naanangal thadukkindrathuYet coy bashfulness acts as a dam and blocks it
Anaiyittu naanangal thadukkindrathuYet coy bashfulness acts as a dam and blocks it
Female
Ilam thaththai kindha nenjamIsn't the heart given to this young parrot
Oru manjam allavooA cozy bed?
Naan kattru kolla ethanaiyoooHow many skills are there for me to learn,
Vithai sollalaamooShall I teach you the arts?
Male
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhuA golden parrot came onto the shoulder
Thoththi kondadhuAnd clung to it
Naan thottavudan mella mellaThe moment I touched it, slowly and softly
Thappi sendrathu….It escaped away...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Thangakkili' from the 1979 movie 'Mayandi' is a playful and romantic duet depicting the romantic banter between two lovers. Metaphorically describing his beloved as a golden parrot that perches on his shoulder but shyly escapes his touch, the hero expresses his longing and affectionate pursuit. The heroine responds by painting pictures of natural intimacy—comparing her feelings to a fruit landing in a lap, dew drops glistened by sunlight, and clouds embracing mountains. Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Vaali, the song captures the delicate tension between passionate desire and bashful hesitation. The lovers exchange poetic metaphors of nature, art, and love-making, highlighting how youthful romance blossoms when restrained gently by modesty and bashfulness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Oru thangakkili thozhil vandhu thoththi kondadhu

The beloved is metaphorically referred to as a 'thangakkili' (golden parrot) perching on his shoulder.

Personification

Kulir konda ilanthendral varugindrathu / Adhu neer konda alaigalil nadakkindrathu

The cool breeze is personified as an entity walking across water-laden waves.

Simile (Uwamai)

Alaiyena ilam manam thavikkindrathu

The yearning young heart is explicitly compared to restless ocean waves ('Alaiyena').

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Maraiyena kuzhal vandhu thiraiyittadhu

The woman's long dark hair is metaphorically described as a curtain ('thirai') creating a veil of privacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Thangakkili' is a classic 1970s Tamil romantic duet composed by the legendary 'Mellisai Mannar' M. S. Vishwanathan for the film 'Mayandi' (1979). The song features the versatile vocals of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, whose playful vocal expressions perfectly matched Vaali's evocative nature-inspired imagery.

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